Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has recalled parliament two weeks early to debate urgent legislation introducing tougher hate speech laws and gun reform in response to the Bondi terror attack. MPs will return on 19 and 20 January to consider a bill that includes a new racial vilification offence, a crackdown on 'hate preachers', and the largest gun buyback program since the Port Arthur massacre.
The legislation will create a lower threshold for listing groups as prohibited hate groups, ensure extremism is factored into sentencing, strengthen bans on prohibited symbols, and create a new offence for inciting hatred to intimidate or harass. The home affairs minister will gain new powers to cancel or refuse visas, and a formal scheme to list hate groups will be established.
Albanese denied the plan was an attempt to wedge Coalition MPs opposed to tougher gun laws, stating: 'The terrorists at Bondi beach had hatred in their minds, but guns in their hands. This law will deal with both.' The sitting will also include condolence motions for the 15 people killed at Bondi last month.
Opposition leader Sussan Ley expressed scepticism, warning against playing politics and criticising the single bill for covering 'multiple complex and unrelated policy areas'. One Nation MP Barnaby Joyce called for a ban on burning the Australian flag. The attorney general, Michelle Rowland, said the laws would be 'the toughest hate laws Australia has ever seen'.
The government has consulted Jewish groups, with Executive Council of Australian Jewry president Peter Wertheim welcoming the tightening of laws. The bill will be reviewed by the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security before introduction, with Albanese expecting it to pass the Senate by 20 January.
